Aryna Sabalenka speaks out on controversial see-through dress at US Open

Defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has had her say on the controversial Nike outfit she's wearing at Flushing Meadows.

Sabalenka is chasing her third consecutive win at the US Open and started with a straight-sets victory over Camila Osorio in the first round.

After competing alongside Novak Djokovic in the mixed doubles in a black mesh dress during the US Open's fan week, the Belarusian switched to orange in her first singles outing on Monday.

The Nike dress has white trim and covers an orange sports bra and trunks, unsurprisingly inspiring a mixed response from tennis fans.

According to the sportswear giant, the look has been created to combine the traditional tennis silhouette with the lightweight construction of a basketball uniform.

Fans have been divided by her style in New York over the last week but Sabalenka is unequivocal in her positivity.

"I love it," the back-to-back champion said of her US Open dresses.

"This year it was super special for Nike... it was always related to different sports.

"Surfing for Australian Open, ballet for Roland Garros, cricket for Wimbledon. Now it’s basketball and we’re in New York. Isn’t it the perfect fit?

"I love basically everything about my outfit. I love that it’s different. I love that this outfit is bold.

"Whatever people saying on Internet, I heard they probably didn’t like it... it’s funny for me."

The black version of the dress made its first appearance on Sabalenka's Instagram, where the response was typically disunited.

Amid plenty of positive reaction, Nike's comment attracted a barrage of negative replies from followers who must also have been fuming when they saw Naomi Osaka's US Open fit.

"You need to fire your designer immediately! This is not tennis wear. This is Temu," accused one fan with an exceptionally loose grasp of Nike's approval processes.

"You're right we are not ready for this unflattering, hideous mess!" ranted another. "Tell me someone did not actually get paid for designing this dress! The lady is world number one and attractive to boot, and all Nike could come up with is a beach shawl!"

"We don't like it," stated another Instagram user. That's that, then.

World number one Sabalenka will now face Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko in the second round.

She eased past Osorio to get her defence underway after defeating local favourite Amanda Anisimova in last year's final to retain the title and claim a fourth career singles Grand Slam.

The 28-year-old also won back-to-back Australian Open championships in 2023 and 2024 but was beaten in the two subsequent finals and was unable to go beyond the last eight of either the French Open or Wimbledon earlier this year.

Sabalenka's 2026 season has been interrupted between the majors by issues with fatigue and injury.

Her fourth-round exit at Wimbledon this summer was the first time she's missed out on a place in the last eight in a Grand Slam event in which she's competed since the French Open in 2022.